After opposition from certain quarters in the Indian Army and security
forces, NSG commandos have been now limited to training security personnel of CRPF and the J&K Police.

It is Kashmir's best kept secret for at least a month now. Kept under wraps is a mini National Security Guard (NSG) hub-cum-regional training centre in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), where the Black Cats will soon be training security forces in the terror-hit region with focus on urban core operation, urban warfare and room intervention.

Sources said the decision was taken by the ministry of home affairs, but setting up of the base was kept low key. DGP Sudhir Pratap Singh confirmed that the NSG had been deployed for training purpose, but refused to comment further on it. However, the latest entrant in the trouble-torn state has caused flutter and debate within the forces. Initially brought into the Valley for operational purpose, there seemed to be an opposition from certain quarters in the army and security forces. Due to this, the NSG team has been now been limited to train security personnel of CRPF and the J&K Police.

High level sources confirmed to Mail Today that "a Company (40 personnel) of Black Cats commandos of the NSG have been camping at the CRPF pre-induction training centre in Lethapora, near Srinagar, for close to a month, though any sort of training is yet to begun".

NSG's 51 Special Action Group (SAG), tasked to carry out anti-hijack and anti-terror operations, are currently stationed in south Kashmir. A top source said "the army has been opposing to it tooth and nail" as the security forces operating in the Valley are divided on utility of Black Cats in counter-terror operations.

Despite being considered best in uniform to deal with counter-terror operations, the NSG was not called on August 26 during a suicide attack unleashed by three Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist at the District Police Line, Pulwama. The terrorist were holed up in two blocks, but not once, did any of the forces on ground felt the need to involve the NSG, who were only a few kilometres away. An army officer deployed in counter-terror operations in south Kashmir told Mail Today, "With regards to insurgency, the army has always dealt with counter-terror operations while the NSG deals only with the operations once every few years."

A senior CRPF officer too echoed the sentiment saying, "There are already multiple agencies working in the Valley. It will lead to a further confusion if NSG is added as force multiplier." The NSG has trained state police's Special Operations Group (SOG) last December at their headquarters in Manesar. While Kashmir has largely been out of bound for NSG commandos, the initial steps may change the counter-terror scenario in the state , which has largely been infested by Pakistan-backed terror groups.